The Atlanta Braves authored a powerful bounce-back marketing campaign in 2026 after they missed the playoffs fully the 12 months earlier than, however they nonetheless did not make a deep playoff run when all was stated and performed. Since profitable the World Collection in 2021, the Braves have did not advance previous the NLDS, so it’s clear that issues want to vary this offseason.
Rumors have been swirling round Atlanta over the previous couple of weeks, and in a shock twist, celebrity outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. has seen his identify pop up in commerce rumors. There are explanation why an Acuna commerce would make sense for the Braves, however in response to one insider, it doesn’t sound like there’s a lot weight to those rumors.
Insider Shuts Down Braves’ Ronald Acuna Jr. Commerce Rumors
Ever since discovering his strategy to the majors again in 2018, Acuna has constantly been one of the crucial well-rounded gamers within the league. A real five-tool participant, Acuna is a five-time All-Star who additionally gained the Nationwide League MVP Award in 2023 when he hit .337 with 41 house runs, 106 RBIs, and 73 stolen bases.
The one factor that may actually decelerate Acuna is accidents, as he’s missed appreciable time in 5 of his first 9 seasons with a wide range of totally different illnesses. In 2026, Acuna solely performed in 107 video games, and whereas his numbers had been strong (.255 BA, 20 HR, 55 RBI, 21 SB, .796 OPS), he struggled to make the identical form of impression the Braves had turn out to be accustomed to receiving from him.
Whereas Acuna is underneath group management for at the least yet another season (Atlanta holds a membership possibility for the 2028 marketing campaign), the group may conceivably look to maneuver him after one of many extra irritating seasons of his profession. Groups are anticipated to examine in on Acuna, however the overarching expectation is that he’ll keep put this offseason.
A Ronald Acuña Jr. commerce this offseason is seen as extremely unlikely, as I stated on MLB Community just a few moments in the past,” Jon Morosi reported in a put up on X. “Acuña is coming into the ultimate assured 12 months of his contract with the Braves, who maintain a membership possibility for 2028.”
Ought to the Braves Commerce Ronald Acuna Jr.?
The primary story surrounding MLB proper now’s the labor negotiations between the league and the MLBPA over a brand new collective bargaining settlement. In some unspecified time in the future, baseball might be performed once more, and whereas we don’t know when that may occur, the final assumption is that the monetary panorama of the league will look totally different. With that in thoughts, the Braves are proper to be cautious of doubtless handing Acuna one other big-money contract extension.
And but, Acuna is the form of man any group ought to realistically be seeking to put money into. Sure, he has some harm issues, however he’ll nonetheless be coming into simply his age-29 season in 2027, so he ought to nonetheless have a number of good years of baseball forward of him if he can keep wholesome. This isn’t a call Atlanta has to make immediately, however with no actual rush to resolve on Acuna’s future, it’d come as a significant shock if he ended up getting traded.
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